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10 October 2023 | Story Lacea Loader | Photo SUPPLIED
Prof Paul Oberholster
Prof Paul Oberholster, newly appointed Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has appointed Prof Paul Oberholster as Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences as of 1 January 2024. 

Strong networks and winner of prestigious awards for research, innovation, and leadership 

Prof Oberholster is currently the Director: Centre for Environmental Management at the UFS. He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the UFS before obtaining a PhD in water resource management at the University of Pretoria. 

After several years in secondary education, Prof Oberholster started his scientific research career as a Senior Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 2007. In 2017, he became a Chief Scientist (the highest scientific position at the CSIR, and senior management) managing large multidisciplinary projects on the African continent related to integrated water resource management and natural-based treatment solutions/ecological engineering. 

During his time at the CSIR, he acted as extraordinary professor and lecturer in several academic departments at different institutions, including Stellenbosch University, the University of Pretoria, and the University of the Western Cape. During the same time, he received several prestigious awards for research, innovation, and leadership. 

In 2019, Prof Oberholster joined the UFS as Director of the Centre for Environmental Management and also received the National Science and Technology Foundation (NSTF) award in the category Water Research Commission, with a focus on natural-based passive phyco-remediation and phytoremediation treatment technology. In 2022, he was elected as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) in recognition of his academic achievements in South Africa, and in 2023 he was appointed as the Managing Director of the Ecological Engineering Institute of Africa (EEIA). 

Rated among top 2% in the world in the scientific category of engineering/technology, ecological engineering and environmental engineering. 

Currently, Prof Oberholster is rated among the top 2% in the world in the scientific category of engineering/technology, ecological engineering, and environmental engineering. “Prof Oberholster has an extensive and impressive international research standing and has established extensive networks and partnerships. He can lead and manage the faculty in support of the UFS Vision 130’s ultimate intent for the coming years to be a research-led, student-centred, and regionally engaged university,” says Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal. 

“It is a privilege to be part of the leadership team in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences – we will ensure that the faculty is known nationally and internationally as an excellent faculty serving our community. We aim to consolidate and build on the strengths of the university in order to extend its excellence in research and teaching and learning, which is imbedded in the UFS Vision 130,” says Prof Oberholster. 

Prof Oberholster will succeed the current Dean, Prof Danie Vermeulen, who will be retiring at the end of December 2023. 

News Archive

Information day about crop production
2005-10-27

The Department of Soil, Crop en Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS) presented an information day about crop production at the Kenilworth experimental farm outside Bloemfontein. 

Various research projects that are currently conducted at the farm were introduced and explained to guests.  The day was attended by representatives from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Department of Agriculture, Omnia, Pannar, Senwes, Griekwaland Wes Koöp (GWK) and farmers from the commercial and developing agricultural sectors. 

The experimental farm is mainly used for the training of graduate and post graduate students and for contract research.  There are currently  2 Ph D's, 2 Master's studies and 1 research project for the Water Research Council (WRC) conducted at the farm. 

The facility is equipped with a centre pivot irrigation system, lysimeter complex for the insitu studying of plant-soil water relations and an automatic weather station.      

In his welcoming speech Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS said that in the past couple of years agricultural research in South Africa has deteriorated.   He said that the Faculty wants to commit itself to uplift and advance research by means of the experimental farm.  The Department of Soil, Crop en Climate Sciences aims to present regular sessions like this one at the experimental farm. 

 

Photo:  Stephen Collett

From left:
Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS), Ms Keletso Seetseng (Master's student in Agriculture at the UFS), Dr Ezekiel Moraka (Vice-Rector:  Student Affairs at the UFS) and Dr Leon van Rensburg (from the UFS Department of Soil, Crop en Climate Sciences).  Me Seetseng works on two Canola field experiments and manages 216 plots of these experiments.

 

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